The Argos have beaten every team, have yet to lose to the same team twice and have bounced back each time they’ve taken a step back.

On Monday, the Argos have an opportunity to take control of their football destiny and with it the real possibility of defending their Grey Cup title late next month in Regina.

A lot was exposed during last Friday night’s loss to Hamilton, a setback that would bring the Argos back to reality following four weeks of comeback wins and must-see late-game drama.

Chris Jones might be viewed as an unorthodox co-ordinator, uncompromising in his beliefs, controversial by some, but no defensive mind makes the necessary adjustments when vulnerability surfaces.

Whether it’s keeping Tiger-Cats quarterback Henry Burris in the pocket, sending pressure packages or throwing different looks in the back end of Toronto’s defence, expect anything and everything by Jones.

Offensively, the Argos welcome back the CFL’s most accurate passer in Ricky Ray, who has looked very good in practice, despite being inactive for almost two months with a shoulder injury.

It’s a homecoming for Mike O’Shea, Toronto’s special teams co-ordinator who attended Guelph.

No excuses and every reason to believe that Monday’s Thanksgiving stage promises to be a classic as the Toronto-Hamilton rivalry gets renewed.

Argos head coach Scott Milanovich uses the word humbled in describing his team’s loss to the Ticats.

There has been a definite air of urgency all week, but now the true test arrives.

“When you win four in a row you get used to winning,’’ began Milanovich. “I’ve said it before, but there’s nothing more miserable than losing, the gravity of a loss is so much higher than the elation of a win.

“It just brings you back to reality, it makes you get back to work. I didn’t think our effort was all that bad (against Hamilton). I didn’t see as much urgency as I’ve had in the past.”

In Toronto’s team room there’s a board where occasionally a player or coach would write something that basically sums up the mood in Argoland on that particular week.

The message this week was pretty raw and forthright.

“Losing sucks,’’ said Milanovich. “Not sure who wrote it.”

As much as the Argos can control their destiny, the Ticats are in a similar situation, looking to find consistency in a season of inconsistency.

A back-to-back set with the Argos leads to a back-to-back series with Montreal before a date in Winnipeg that sees the Ticats close out the regular season.

Hamilton remains a dangerous team because of its coaching and talent.

The Argos proved last season that timing is so critical in the CFL, playing average football until they found their game late in the season.

Toronto went 9-9 during the regular season, but ended the year by winning its last two before embarking on its Grey Cup road.

The Ticats turned an important corner last Friday by making the big plays in the fourth quarter and by responding when adversity struck.

A win Monday may very well catapult the Ticats to bigger things and a potential playoff showdown with the Argos on an even bigger stage.

The winner on Monday will also hold the tiebreaker in the event the two teams are deadlocked.

“If we want to get a mental edge up on them with the playoffs looming, and you have to beat Toronto to get to the Grey Cup, we need to get this big win for that mental psyche,’’ said Burris.

Psychologically, emotionally, it’s as big as it gets with a lot at stake and plenty of repercussions depending on the outcome.

With Anthony Calvillo expected to return for the season finale in Toronto, the East has the potential to go right down to the final week.

The Als are playing the best on defence, but the Argos have the best player in Ray.

Injuries and personal matters have forced the Argos into making several changes on defence.

But the Argos are Ricky Ray’s team and as long as Ray stays clean, Toronto can beat anyone, anywhere.

O'SHEA HAPPY TO BE BACK IN GUELPH

As an alumnus of Guelph, Alumni Stadium has a special place in Mike O’Shea’s heart.

Toronto’s special teams co-ordinator has visited his former university home in the past, attending gala fund-raisers for the football program, watching from afar as the stadium was fitted for CFL football.

Toronto’s secondary has all of a sudden become an area of primary concern, a unit that has a tendency to yield as many big plays as it produces.

Its biggest piece, and its best, Pat Watkins, won’t be suiting up Monday afternoon in Guelph as the host Ticats try to catch the Argos for first in the East.

Watkins missed training camp as he remained in his native Florida to take care of personal reasons.

The Argos weren’t saying much on Sunday, but personal reasons are being cited for Watkins’ status.

The same applies to Demetrice Morley, who has lined at both halfback and at linebacker.

In each case, Argos head Scott Milanovich was notified earlier in the week, forcing the Argos to shuffle the deck, which is commonplace in three-down football.

“I wouldn’t read too much into them,’’ said Milanovich of the personal issues surrounding Watkins and Morley. “No one is any trouble.”

The Argos might if Ticat quarterback Henry Burris is allowed to stay clean in the pocket or make plays with his feet if allowed to get out of the pocket.

Like most, Burris was surprised of Watkins’ status, an athletic freak who covers so much ground given his length.

In Watkins’ place, Neiko Thorpe starts at corner.

“He’s definitely one of the best DBs in the league,” said Burris of Watkins. “That’s definitely a loss for anybody. That’s a key presence that won’t be there for them.”

CONCERN IN THE SECONDARY

On Monday, he returns for the first time as an assistant on a day when the Argos can wrap up a home playoff berth and move one step closer to a bye in the East.

“I really have fond memories of my time at the University of Guelph,” began O’Shea, whose university run ended in 1992. “It’s one of the places where I learned a lot about football.

“I remember like it was yesterday my first day showing up at rookie camp, I remember my last day there, homecoming games against Western. It was a great place to play football, it was a good time to be a Gryphon. We had a lot of success.”

Part of O’Shea’s pre-game routine on Monday involved a stop at The Apollo for breakfast, followed by a haircut at Franco’s Barber Shop, places O’Shea often would visit when he attended Guelph.

Sponsored Links

Argonauts out for revenge against Tiger-Cats

The Argos have beaten every team, have yet to lose to the same team twice and have bounced back each time they’ve taken a step back.

On Monday, the Argos have an opportunity to take control of their football destiny and with it the real possibility of defending their Grey Cup title late next month in Regina.

A lot was exposed during last Friday night’s loss to Hamilton, a setback that would bring the Argos back to reality following four weeks of comeback wins and must-see late-game drama.

Chris Jones might be viewed as an unorthodox co-ordinator, uncompromising in his beliefs, controversial by some, but no defensive mind makes the necessary adjustments when vulnerability surfaces.

Whether it’s keeping Tiger-Cats quarterback Henry Burris in the pocket, sending pressure packages or throwing different looks in the back end of Toronto’s defence, expect anything and everything by Jones.

Offensively, the Argos welcome back the CFL’s most accurate passer in Ri